India failed to stop attacks on minorities: HRW


New Delhi, Jan 19 (IANS): Human Rights Watch on Thursday said the Indian government failed to stop or credibly investigate vigilante attacks against minority religious communities in 2017 which killed 10 people.

Many senior leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) publicly promoted Hindu supremacy and ultra-nationalism at the expense of fundamental rights for all Indians, as per the World Report 2018, released on Thursday.

"Extremist Hindu groups, many claiming to be affiliated with the BJP, committed numerous assaults against Muslims and other minority communities in response to rumours that minority group members sold, bought, or killed cows for beef," it said in a statement.

"Instead of taking prompt legal action against the attackers, police frequently filed complaints against the victims under laws banning cow slaughter. There were at least 38 such attacks in 2017, and 10 people were killed."

Indian authorities had proven themselves unwilling to protect minority religious communities and other vulnerable groups from frequent attack, said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

"There needs to be a serious effort to prevent future attacks and to prosecute all those responsible for the violence," the statement quoted Ganguly as saying.

The report also highlighted the fact that Indian authorities harassed and brought charges, including for sedition and criminal defamation, against activists, academics, journalists, and others critical of government actions or policies.

"Threats of legal action and arbitrary corruption investigations put increasing pressure on journalists and media outlets to self-censor," as per the statement.

It also said the state governments resorted to "blanket internet shutdowns in misguided attempts to prevent violence or social unrest, or to maintain law and order".

"By November, they had imposed 60 internet shutdowns, 27 of these in Jammu and Kashmir," it said.

The government also used the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), which governs access to foreign funding for nongovernmental organisations, to cut off funds and harass activists and human rights defenders, it added.

Even after amending laws against sexual violence, girls and women still face barriers in reporting such crimes, including humiliation at police stations and hospitals, lack of protection and more, it said.

It also said India passed up chances to demonstrate leadership on human rights issues at international forums such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and General Assembly.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Moshu, Mangaluru

    Fri, Jan 19 2018

    Wish the international community take a look of their concern.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • KRPrabhu, Mangalore/Bangalore

    Fri, Jan 19 2018

    Whether this paper tiger HRW has any jurisdiction in Kerala and West Bengal where several hindus were beaten,killed by present ruling party ?Whether HRW considered hindus too as humans?

    DisAgree [9] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Mangalore

    Fri, Jan 19 2018

    India is huge Country. There are several instances where minorities in Inda attacked majority community. best example would be Karnataka. Your selective reporting does not make sense at all. It looks like a motivated campaign.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sharan, Mangalore

    Fri, Jan 19 2018

    True..it makes no sense but get the larger picture.International opinion of India wrt religious minorities and adherence to strong Hindutva agenda by BJP is well known.If Gov't allows the atrocities who.d want to invest here? No foreign investors would want to work in intolerant countries.The PM must change his supportive stand towards beef & lynching.probably he can't..he.s RSS man.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sheikh, Karkala

    Fri, Jan 19 2018

    Then who stopped you from declaring RSS, BHAJRANG DAL, SRIRAM SENE, VHP, Etc, a terror group?

    DisAgree [4] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anilkumar, Mangalore

    Fri, Jan 19 2018

    What is the use of such reports which do not materialise in any action??
    Just for entertainment??

    DisAgree Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • IGNACE kULLU, MLORE

    Fri, Jan 19 2018

    HUMAN RIGHT WATCH DOGS ARE PVT AND INDEPENDENT BODY , THEIR REPORT MAY BE AN ENTERTAINMENT, ONLY IF PUBLIC DO NOT WAKES UP.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Bengaluru/Katapadi

    Fri, Jan 19 2018

    Minorities are insecure and feel not safe in the country though the nation is bound by a solid constitution

    DisAgree [5] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed K.C., Mangalore

    Fri, Jan 19 2018

    How can they stop, when it is done by their own Bhakhtas

    DisAgree [8] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Gabriel, sagar

    Fri, Jan 19 2018

    Protecting the weaker sections of the society is minimum Dharma. And working for the development of all section of the society is Loka samgraha Dharma.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse


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